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ThailandTourists going to Phuket, most often the question is asked: "Which beach in Phuket is the best?". For me (the author of the article), the best beach is definitely Patong, reminding me of my first love Pattaya. No, someone will say: "The best beach is Bang Tao, because there is surfing there". And someone else will say: "Nonsense, Kamala Beach is the best. It's quiet, calm and beautiful there".
What is the best beach in Phuket? The beaches of Phuket are very diverse and there are a lot of them. Apparently, everyone will have to choose the best one for themselves. And if your choice coincides with your expectations, then a vacation on the island will bring you a pleasure. Therefore, before choosing a hotel on a particular beach, read the beach review below. You can see the position of the beaches on the schematic map, and also go to the selected beach on the interactive map of Phuket and see it in detail.
You can find and book accommodation on Phuket Island on these sites or through the search form. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language customer support, a lot of reviews from real guests.
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Phuket on Trip.com (💳 Mir cards work)
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Phuket on Yandex.travel
- 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru
Waves in Phuket
A very important factor when choosing a holiday destination in Phuket are the waves. Moreover, for some, strong waves can be a problem, and some tourists, on the contrary, choose a place in Phuket where large waves form and come here in the windy season. Of course, these are surfers coming to Phuket to ride the local waves.
In April, monsoons begin to blow on Phuket from the west, forming constant waves. The maximum of the waves falls on June-August. At this time, swimming on some beaches becomes dangerous or impossible. In addition, the constantly blowing wind and waves wash up and throw garbage and dirt ashore, making the image of beaches far from ideal "Bounty". Considering that most of Phuket's beaches are located on the west coast of the island, tourists who prefer a "recumbent-floating" beach holiday disappear from the shores during these months, and surfers who prefer active recreation take their place. Only on some beaches during this period it is safe to wallow in the water. Since October, the waves have been on the decline, and in November the influx of tourists and high season begins. For each beach below, we tried to give a description of the formation of waves in the off-season.
The tides in Phuket
As well as waves, for recreation, the influence of tides on the beach should be taken into account. Obviously, it is not very pleasant to observe the sea that ran away during low tide a hundred meters from its former location, leaving behind mountains of garbage and algae on the former bottom, exposing ugly gray rocks and stones. Basically, this problem concerns beaches with a shallow bottom that smoothly goes under the water. Where the depth is large and starts immediately, the bottom goes more sharply under the water, there are no such problems. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the time of tides and ebbs on the island during the day so that during your rest the ebb falls at night or at least in the evening, and during the day you can safely enjoy swimming. Read more about the tides on the beaches of Phuket here...
In the Russian travel blogging space, there is an ignorant misconception that the tides change cyclically at the same time during the day. In fact, they change depending on the position of the sun, moon, terrain and many other factors. Therefore, it is never possible to say unequivocally, for example, that there are tides in a particular resort in the morning and ebbs in the evenings. To determine the level of tides in Phuket, you need to use special calculated forecast charts.
All beaches of Phuket
In the table we have summarized the estimates of the most popular beaches of the resort so that you can quickly determine the beach that is suitable for you and proceed to a more detailed description of it. After the table is a complete list and description of all the beaches of Phuket.
| The beach | beach quality | suitability for bathing | protection from waves | Safety for children | infrastructure of the district | entertainment and night rest | shopping |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patong | |||||||
| Kalim | |||||||
| Karon | |||||||
| Kata | |||||||
| Bang Tao | |||||||
| Kamala | |||||||
| Nai Harn | |||||||
| Janui | |||||||
| Rawai | |||||||
| Surin | |||||||
| Naiton | |||||||
| Nai-Yang | |||||||
| Chalong Bay | |||||||
| Mei Khao | |||||||
| Phuket town |
Patong (Patong Beach, Thai. Haad Patong)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Patong means "Banana forest" in Thai. This is the most popular, developed and hotel-rich tourist destination. Patong is located northwest (10 kilometers) of Phuket town, and 22 kilometers from the airport on the west coast of the island. The length of the beach on Patong is 4 kilometers.
If you want to be in the center of events and fun – this is the place for you. All conditions are created here for tourists, because it's not for nothing that this place is the most popular on the island. Many hotels and nightclubs, shops and diving centers await you here. Many people compare Patong with Pattaya. Here, as well as in the capital of sex tourism Pattaya, you will find all kinds of adult entertainment for yourself: transvestite shows, go-go bars, sex clubs, massage parlors, gay bars.
Many tourists who have visited Patong once at an unfortunate time claim that the beach there is a "dump", in fact, everything is not so bad. In the season (December-March) and on Patong it is quite tolerable. Considering that Patong beach is quite large and varies in all its four kilometers, at different times in different places it is different here. Some places are subject to strong wave formation, some are not. In other places, the tide does not manifest itself in any way, and somewhere during low tide the beach becomes very bad. You should look for the best conditions in the north of the beach (closer to Kalim beach), or in the south (but the southern part is more affected by low tide), only away from the center. So here you just need to look for the right place at the right time, and you will have a nice beach... Read more about Patong...
Kalim (Kalim Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Kalim Beach continues the coast of Phuket north of Patong, almost without interrupting the strip of beaches and infrastructure. Both beaches are separated only by small rocks on the shore, while the areas smoothly merge into one another completely unnoticed.
Directly the beach here pulls on a solid three. On the one hand, it is much more deserted than neighboring Patong, one might even say a little cleaner. But on the other hand, along its entire length, and this is one kilometer, the sandy strip is interrupted by stone piles, while it is also very narrow. During the tides, there is nowhere to settle down here, because the water comes close to the stones or an artificial dam. The beach is very bad for swimming. The road and the stone dam, which runs almost at the water's edge, completely spoil the picture.
The only advantage of Kalim is its silence. Both the beach itself is sparsely populated, and the area is very quiet and peaceful, although it is close to the entertainment center of the island. It is only necessary to drive or walk one kilometer from Kalim towards Patong, as you find yourself in the noisy center of the hangout and the most developed area of the island. And it is perfect for those who do not want to swallow the exhaust fumes of big roads and endure the hustle and bustle every day on vacation, and at the same time is close to the hangout to be able to get there at any time in just 5 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes on foot.
The infrastructure here is not very well developed. For the exchange of money, shopping, search for travel agencies or rental will have to go to the neighboring area. There are minimarkets of products here, cafes are available. In the evenings, there is an excellent open-air food court on the embankment.
There are very few hotels on Kalim Beach, and there are no cheap hostels at all. But there are hotels with their own territory and gorgeous pools overlooking the ocean. If you decide to stay here, it is better to book accommodation in advance. And when choosing a hotel, you should not go too far north (up the map), because the beach does not stretch throughout the area... Read more about Kalim...
Karon (Karon Beach, Thai. Hat Karon)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
In 2008, Karon Beach ranked eighth among the best beaches in the world. It is located just behind Patong Beach, 3 km to the south, and is the second most popular after Patong. It consists of two beaches: small Karon (Karon Noi Beach) and big Karon (Karon Beach).
The situation in the Karon area is much quieter than in Patong, although it is becoming more popular and crowded every year. We can say that it is a kind of golden mean for those who are looking for good clean beaches, developed infrastructure, and entertainment.
The infrastructure here is well developed and there is everything you might need for a holiday, except perhaps an abundance of night entertainment like in Patong. Evening and night entertainment here is limited to bars (including with girls) and restaurants, but there are no noisy discos in sight. During the day, in addition to a beach holiday, there is nothing much to do here, except to play golf at the local course or go on excursions around the island. Shopping on Karon is modest, there are no large shopping centers.
The beach itself is definitely one of the most beautiful and cozy. In 2008, he even took the eighth place among the best beaches in the world according to one of the magazines. The water here is clean, as is the sand. By the way, the sand here creaks like snow, and this can no longer be found anywhere else in Phuket. It is much more deserted and quieter than Patong, especially in the northern part, and is perfect for a holiday with children or a family holiday. The waves here are almost always weak. The slope of the bottom is different everywhere, and there are places safe for children, and great for swimming. But at the same time it is also one of the most treacherous beaches for swimmers, most people die here. All the traditional beach activities are available here, including places for snorkeling and diving. There is, however, a drawback: there is a road along the beach, and there are no hotels on the first line at all.
You can advise to relax here for those who want to spend a lot of time on the beach and swim in clean water, and at the same time be close to the entertainment center and nightlife... Read more about Karon...
Kata (Kata Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Phuket's Kata district is located 31 km from the airport on the west coast of the island just south of Karon. The coast of Kata is divided into two parts: the big Kata or Kata Main Beach and it is also Kata Yai, and the far or small Kata or Kata Noi. Kata Noi is located 500 meters south of the big Kata and is separated from it by a small cape (Kata Noi on the map). On the small Kata, the infrastructure is worse developed, but the beach is much more deserted. But the districts are so close to each other that even if you stay in a hotel on a small Kata, you will not notice any difference, and everything you need on a large Kata will be accessible on foot.
The Kata area as a whole is an even quieter and more peaceful place than Karon, although, objectively, the beach is more crowded here in high season. There are no night discos here, and there is practically no debauchery like Bangla Rd in Patong, although there are bars that work late. This is a quiet place for a family holiday, and perhaps one of the most successful for families with young children. All the necessary infrastructure for a tourist is here: you can easily find currency exchangers and banks, small shops (there are no shopping centers here), many travel agencies, and, of course, cafes, bars and restaurants. Almost all the entertainment here is concentrated on the beaches, and there is almost nothing to do in the area during the day. In the evening, you can stroll through restaurants or sit in one of the bars.
The big Kata beach itself is not as extensive as Patong, with a length of just over 1 kilometer, the width of the sand strip is very large, sometimes more than 50 meters. The sand is very fine and pleasant, almost white. It is perfectly protected from winds and waves by the surrounding hills and capes. During the rainy season (from May to October), the waves get bigger and it becomes popular with surfers. The bottom of the big Kata goes under the water very smoothly, and therefore swimming here is considered safe even for children, but it is impossible to swim here at low tide, the water goes far away. There are all the traditional beach activities, sun loungers, cafes with access directly to the water.
The small Kata has a length of just over 500 meters. It is even more clean, beautiful and secluded than the big Kata. The whole beach is dotted with sun loungers, but there are almost no beach activities here. Cafes and restaurants are available. Winds and waves are stronger here.
The disadvantage of the beach is the crowded high season, and every year there are more and more people... Read more about Kata...
Bang Tao (also Bang Thao)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
The long beach of Bang Tao frames the bay with a coastline length of about 8 kilometers. Located on the west coast, 12 kilometers west of the airport.
The best and most expensive hotels of the island are located here. Beaches with the purest sand are considered one of the best on the island, and the bay itself is the most picturesque place. Around the bay there is a grove with extraordinary casuarina trees.
The constantly blowing wind has made Bang Thao Beach very popular among surfers. Every year international surfing competitions are held here. But don't let the fact that there are waves frighten you. The beach is very long, and in different parts of it the situation with waves differs even in the off-season: large waves, as a rule, only in the center of the beach, and the sea is quite calm around the edges... Read more about Bang Tao...
Kamala (Kamala Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Kamala Beach is located on the west coast of Phuket between Patong and Surin. Its peculiarity is that it was formed from a Muslim village, and therefore the proportion of Muslims here is high, and in the mornings in some parts of it you can hear calls to prayers from mosques. This is one of the reasons why the reviews of tourists about the Kamala area turn out to be so ambiguous: some praise him for his silence and tranquility, while others, on the contrary, complain about the early muezzins and the noise of the roads.
But no matter what they write in the reviews, objectively Kamala is a calm, quiet beach with a developed infrastructure and a large selection of accommodation from budget to very expensive. At the same time, this is one of the few places on the island where hotels are on the first line. Everything that is necessary for a developed tourist area is available here: travel agencies, transport rental, currency exchange, shops. The area is not purely tourist, there are a lot of houses of local residents here, and this is another feature of it. Nightlife here is poorly developed: there are only a few bars, and everything else closes after 9 pm. For night entertainment you will have to go to Patong beach.
The sand on the beach is mostly fine mixed with large grains of sand. The bottom goes under the water normally, there are no stones, you can swim even at low tide. But in the south (from Patong) the slope of the bottom is weak, it is very far to the depth. Entertainment and all amenities on the beach are available. In the low season you can surf here, and in high season, when the water is calm, you can dive with a mask at the rocks. There is also a dive center here... Read more about Kamala...
Nai Harn (Nai Harn Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Nai Harn Beach (Nai Harn, Nai Han) is located almost in the very south of Phuket in a beautiful cozy bay.
This is not a typical Phuket beach and tourist area, as there is no tourist area as such. There are only a few hotels on and near the beach (actually, there is only one with access to the beach), there is no infrastructure. And although there are excellent conditions for a beach holiday, this place remains poorly developed as a tourist destination, which is due to the Nai Harn Temple, which owns the land here. The main guests of the beach are visitors from other areas of Phuket, including locals who come here for the weekend.
In addition to a couple of hotels, there is a cafe area near the beach, food and souvenir vendors walk along the beach, there are several souvenir shops. But even for the simplest purchases you will have to go a couple of kilometers to the nearest village. Well, there is no currency exchange, banks, travel agencies, motorcycle rentals here, and for all this you will have to go to the nearest developed beaches of Kata or Karon. Motorcycle rental can be found in the neighboring village.
Naiharn beach itself is small, not even a kilometer long. At the edges it is bounded by picturesque green hills, and a small island in the water area completes the picture. It is never empty, but still it is much more deserted than the nearest popular beach and Kata area.
There are a number of sun loungers and umbrellas for rent all along the beach, but there are practically no water activities. The sand is fine, clean, yellow, the water is very clean. Tides practically do not appear. The depth is normal and great for lovers of swimming, it is only necessary to overcome the powerful foamy waves that form at the very edge of the water. But they are not suitable for surfing at all, because they are formed too close. There are rocks on the edges of the beach, next to which you can do simple snorkeling. Most of the beach is not suitable for bathing small children, but in the eastern part there is a shallow bay where the waves do not reach at all, and this is just the perfect place to relax with kids... Read more about Naiharn...
Yanui (Yanui Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Yanui Beach is located in the very south of Phuket in a cozy bay. It is small (no more than 200 meters long), isolated and very beautiful. There are never crowds of vacationers here, because you can only get here by your own transport. But another reason makes this place not very popular – not the best conditions for swimming.
The beach is sandy, bordered by picturesque cliffs. From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of a small island, which seems to be just around the corner. Also along the sandy strip there are rocky areas that go under the water. The tides here do not appear outwardly in any way, and the beach remains just as beautiful, but it is better to swim during the tides, because at low tide there are more chances to stumble upon sharp stones under water. By the way, there are quite a lot of them here, and it's really dangerous to swim until you figure out where they are and where they are clean. The waves are not too big, but there is no way to relax in the water with children here.
On the beach there are many sun loungers and umbrellas for rent (for 100 baht), a restaurant. The only entertainment is kayak rental and snorkeling. You can kayak to a beautiful island in the water area, but you should not land on it: there is nothing to do on it, there are no sandy beaches there.
You can only get here by taxi or rented transport. You can drive up almost to the beach itself.
There is no tourist area as such and no infrastructure here. If you decide to stay here, then be ready to either fork out for food at a local restaurant, or rent a transport and travel to other areas.
There are no hotels directly on the beach. However, a couple of hotels and bungalows are located nearby across the street, where you can rent a room from 1000 baht... Read more about Yanui beach...
Rawai (Rawai Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Rawai Beach and Village is located on the east side of the island. Despite the loud name "beach", you should not perceive this area as a place for a beach holiday. Yes, there really is a beach here, but it is impossible to swim here. Fishing and pleasure boats have chosen the whole coast, no one monitors the purity of the sand, and even the local population rarely climbs into the water. There are no sun loungers for sunbathing. However...
The area itself, although it is a village, is one of the developed tourist areas in the south of Phuket. A busy ring road runs through the district, right along the coast, and, accordingly, small shops and shops, cafes and bars, hotels are lined up along it. There is even a nightclub Blue Marina Discotheque. Restaurants with fresh seafood are the hallmark of the area, and in the north the area ends with a large seafood market where you can buy them and ask them to be cooked for you. Prices on the market will not seem low at first glance, but you need to bargain. And for those who are fond of martial arts, there are two Thai boxing training camps here.
Although there is no beach here, this place is still popular with tourists, especially self-employed. The reason for this is the convenient location of the area near other beautiful beaches in the south of Phuket (Naiharn and Yanui), which do not have any infrastructure at all. Staying at a hotel in this area, you can stay away from the hustle and bustle of popular areas filled with package tourists, and at the same time have at hand everything you need to relax. At the same time, you can get to the neighboring beaches by rented transport or taxi. By the way, here you can rent a motorcycle without problems and inexpensively, unlike other areas of the extreme south of Phuket. And it is also one of the places on the island from where you can go on pleasure boats to the nearest islets for excellent snorkeling... Read more about Rawai beach...
Surin (Surin Beach, Thai. Ao Surin)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
A small Surin beach, about 700 meters long, is located between Kamala and Bang Tao beaches, 18 kilometers from the airport.
Nice and very popular beach in high season. In the low season, quite large waves form here and this place is becoming popular with surfers. A feature of the beach is its "youth" and "partying", a small number of package tourists and families. But everything is changing rapidly, and being an almost rural area a few years ago, Surin is now increasingly being built up and is becoming a standard holiday destination for package tourists.
The infrastructure in the beach area is developed and self-sufficient. There are shops, bars, restaurants, massage parlors, transport rental. There are several discos and entertainment centers.
Hotel accommodation here is expensive and, in general, Surin is famous for expensive luxury hotels and restaurants. There are no hotels on the first line, the nearest one is located 200 meters from the coastline... Read more about Surin beach...
Naiton (Nai Thon Beach, Thai. Hat Nai Thon)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Nai Thon Beach is located in the northern part of the island on the west coast, somewhat away from the main roads, and getting to it, you will have to drive through the winding serpentines between the hills. Along with the beaches of Nai Yang and Mei Khao, Nayton is part of the Sirinat National Park.
A full-fledged tourist area has been formed near the beach, although it is quite modest: everything in this area revolves around several expensive hotels, and there are practically no opportunities for budget travelers here. If in Knighton you need to exchange money, buy excursions or rent transport, then you can find it only in hotels. There are no opportunities for shopping, even for the most basic things you will have to go to other parts of the island. The same goes for entertainment. The only thing in the area besides hotels are restaurants and cafes on the beach.
The beach strip of Knighton is very wide, but not very long, only 1 kilometer. There are umbrellas, but there is no water entertainment. There are a number of restaurants and cafes along the beach. The sand here is fine, almost white and very pleasant, but there are few palm trees, mostly coniferous trees. Although the beach is located in a bay, the waves are quite strong here, especially in the northern part of the beach, and therefore surfers can often be seen here. The depth here is normal, so the beach is perfect for swimming, unless the waves interfere. Unfortunately, in low season or in other periods when there are few guests in local hotels, the beach is not cleaned, and it gradually becomes overgrown with garbage carried by waves to the shore.
There are only a few hotels on Knighton, and far from cheap. We do not know about the availability of opportunities for budget accommodation here, most likely because there is none... Read more about Knighton...
Nai Yang (Thai. Hat Nai Yang)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Nai Yang Beach (Nai Yang, Naiyang) is located on the west coast to the north of the island almost right next to Phuket Airport in Sirinat National Park. This is one of the beaches in Phuket, where rest is comfortable at any time of the year.
Although the beach area looks like a village, it can be called a full-fledged tourist area. On the one hand, the situation here is quiet, there are few tourists, there is almost no entertainment and attractions. On the other hand, there is a full set of hotels and guest houses, restaurants and cafes, small shops and a market, currency exchange and motorcycle rental. In addition to all this, the protected nature of the national park is attached to the load, through which you can move freely.
On the beaches, entertainment using motorboats is prohibited, so you can swim on rented kayaks, dive with a mask, sunbathe in the shade of coniferous trees or sit in one of the cafes, of which there are many along the beach. You can also go for a walk in the national park, and along the shore you can even walk to the nearby Mei Kao beach past the airport. There is a kiting school here, and this is one of the best places in Phuket to practice this sport. There is no evening entertainment here, except that you can sit in one of the restaurants right on the beach.
The beach here has a length of about three kilometers, the strip of sand is very wide. There are almost no palm trees along the shore, but there are a lot of coniferous casuarina trees. The depth is different throughout, as is the effect of tides and waves. The best place to swim is around the middle of the beach. However, in general, Nai Yang Beach is one of the few places in Phuket where there are almost no strong waves and dangerous currents, since the beach is protected by a coral reef. Most of the beach here is thoroughly cleaned, but in some places there is natural debris in the form of sticks and branches, but in general it is clean. Sun loungers and parasols are available on the beach.
There are not very many hotels on Nai Yang. There are several mid-priced hotels along the beach, above $100. Budget accommodation can be found on the second line, but also directly on the beach there are several places where you can find bungalows from $ 30. Some tourists stay in tents in the camp... Read more about Nai Yang beach...
Chalong Bay
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Chalong District is not a beach at all, but only an area and an excellent bay for mooring ships and yachts in the southeastern part of the island. Do not even consider this place as a vacation area if you want to enjoy a beach holiday within walking distance from your hotel. The water here is dirty, boats and yachts are moored everywhere. The maximum you can count on is to sunbathe by the sea. And the nearest good Kata beach is located on the other side of the island (on the west coast) 6 kilometers from here.
But, nevertheless, it is not uncommon to see foreigners in the Chalong area. The area is very popular as a place where you can find an inexpensive house or a room for a long stay, and it is also an ideal place for owners of yachts and ships. If you are planning to go to Phuket for the winter to relax and work, you can start looking for accommodation from this area, because there is all the necessary infrastructure for a long-term stay. At the same time, the purely tourist infrastructure here is poorly developed: there are few hotels, there are almost no European restaurants, and there are no travel agencies to be found. But many of the island's popular attractions and entertainment are located here (Big Buddha, bird park, shooting range, quad bike safaris, elephant nurseries, Thai boxing training centers, etc.)
The area is also popular as a starting point for excursions and diving routes to nearby islands. If you came to the island not for a beach holiday, but in order to explore the underwater world of neighboring islets, there is no better place to stop.
Going here, you should be ready to rent a transport, which is easy to do: motorbikes are rented here, as elsewhere on the island... Read more about Chalong district...
Mai Khao Beach
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Mae Khao Beach is also called Airport Beach or Sanambin Beach. Its northern part is also known as Saikaeo Beach or Sai Khao. This long ten-kilometer beach is located in the northern part of the island near Phuket airport. It is located on the territory of Phuket National Reserve.
The story of this area will begin, perhaps, directly from the beach. With its ten kilometers of continuous sandy beach, it is the longest beach on the island. Moreover, almost all along these kilometers you will not meet a soul. The sand here is very large and yellow, sometimes almost red. Coniferous casuarina trees grow almost everywhere along the shore, there are not very many palm trees. The slope of the bottom is pretty steep almost everywhere, and the tides don't show up. However, this is one of the most unsuccessful and dangerous beaches for swimming. Even the weakest wind causes strong waves here, there are a lot of underwater and rip currents. The beach here is cleaned only near hotels (and this is almost nothing from the entire length of the beach), so in some places whole garbage dumps from local villages have formed.
There is no tourist infrastructure here, only a few expensive hotels are scattered at great distances from each other. There are not even sun loungers on the beach, and you will find restaurants only on the territory of hotels. There is a narrow paved road along the beach, but there is nothing along it either. To find at least some kind of civilization, you need to go half a kilometer – a kilometer further from the coast. There are houses of local villagers, you can find a few simple grocery stores, and nothing else. Neither to exchange money, nor to find a travel agency, nor to rent a transport here will not work.
It is impossible to get to Mae Khao Beach by public transport. If you decide to relax here, it is best to rent a transport, or you will have to hire a taxi every time to get out of here to the nearest civilization.
There are several hotels here, all expensive. There are a couple of campsites where you can stay in a tent, and this is the only option for budget tourists... Read more about Mai Khao...
Phuket town (Thai. Mueang Phuket)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Phuket town (Phuket town, Thai. Mueang Phuket is the capital of the island and the largest city on the island (cm. Phuket town on the map). There is no beach holiday and tourist area here, and, as a rule, tourists do not stay here, trying to get to the beaches as soon as possible. Indeed, there is practically nothing to do in the city, except that some of its attractions are of interest. Also in Phuket town there are authorities, large shopping centers (and even then, they are not located in the very center of the city, but outside it), markets, traditional boutiques, banks and other urban infrastructure.
But that's why almost every independent tourist visits the capital of the island – transport. Almost all local public transport passes through the city (these are a few regular buses and Sonthaew taxis), there is an old bus station and the final stop of all local buses, and a couple of kilometers outside the city there is a new intercity bus station where all long-distance buses arrive.
In general, the infrastructure here makes a temporary tourist stay completely possible. There are hotels, cafes and restaurants, markets, shops, even travel agencies. But we still do not recommend staying here, unless you have come here for a business trip. Probably the only advantage of the location in Phuket town are lower prices than on the beaches... Read more about Phuket Town...
Other beaches in Phuket
The following unpopular beaches do not have their own tourist area, almost no infrastructure, very secluded and sometimes even without hotels:
-
Laem Sing
Laem Sing Beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Laem Sing Beach in Phuket is a small secluded beach in a beautiful bay between Surin and Kamala (Laem Sing on the island map). But don't be fooled by its privacy, in fact it has now become one of the most crowded in high season.
Laem Sing beach is very tiny, its length is 200 meters. There is not a single hotel here, so people come here for a day from the rest of Phuket, dreaming of spending time on the "perfect" beach. And it is really beautiful, but everything spoils a large number of vacationers.
There are several rows of sun loungers and umbrellas, there is a cafe, massage, snorkeling equipment is offered for rent (you can swim near the stones), kayaks. There is all the entertainment from the category of "bananas" and water skiing. In high season, a noisy party with modern music takes place in one of the bars in the evenings.
The sand is very fine and pleasant. The bottom goes under the water normally and after 15 meters from the shore it is already possible to swim. There are large stones at the bottom in places. It is well protected from waves and they are here only in strong winds.
You can get to Laem Sing by taxi or your own transport, you can get from Surin on foot, but not along the shore, but by road. From the northern part of Kamala Beach, it's also a short walk, about 10 minutes. The places here are mountainous, and therefore you will have to go down the stairs 100 meters from the road. On the road at the entrance there is a large sign to the beach and there is a parking lot. For parking, they ask 20 baht for a motorcycle, 40 for a car. If the parking lot turns out to be completely occupied by transport, you will have to leave it a little further towards Surin or even in Surin itself.
Admission is free, although some tourists are occasionally bred by "local entrepreneurs" and charge an entrance fee. If they ask you, you can safely send them away... Read more about Laem Sing...
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Freedom (Freedom Beach)
- beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Freedom beach (Freedom beach, Freedom Beach) is one of the most inaccessible and most beautiful beaches in Phuket (Freedom beach on the island map). There are usually very few people here, but gradually it becomes crowded and equipped. A hotel was opened nearby and now you can get here by road, and then a little on foot, although previously there was only one way – by boat.
There are no hotels here, the only infrastructure is a cafe that operates in high season from November to May. There are sun beds and umbrellas (the rental price is very high, from 200 baht). In the low season, you can buy something to eat or drink only from a merchant with your hands. There is no entertainment, because of this there is no fuss and running around on the beach, and many people really like it.
The beach itself is small, 300 meters. He is incredibly beautiful, and many people say about him simply – "Paradise!". It is hidden in a small bay and is perfectly protected from waves. The water here is very clear, the fish swim right by the shore, the sand is clean and pleasant. Unfortunately, it is poorly cleaned, and you can find garbage of natural and artificial origin... Read more about Freedom beach...
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Banana (Banana Beach)
Banana beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Banana Beach (Banana Beach or Banana Rock Beach) is a very tiny and little–known beach between Knighton and Bang Tao (Banana beach on the island map). A few years ago, this place was almost unknown to anyone, but today there are almost no nooks left. So it is with Banana Beach: now it is no longer a secluded place, but a popular beach for daytime recreation. There are always enough vacationers here, many boats arrive.
There is no infrastructure here, as well as hotels. There are sun beds and umbrellas for rent, there is an improvised cafe under a canopy and plastic chairs and tables right on the sand. Boats are offered for rent for a walk, but it is not clear where to sail on them.
The beach is very picturesque and cozy. Palm trees grow almost at the water's edge along the crescent-shaped strip of sand, and at high tide the water even reaches the trunks. Rare stone boulders here fit perfectly into the picture. The sand is fine as flour and very pleasant, almost white. The bottom is sandy, occasionally there are stones. The bottom slope is normal, perfect for swimming and safe for children. The water is clear, there is something to see in it with a mask... Read more about Banana beach...
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Ao Yon (Ao Yon Beach) and Ao Yon Noi (Ao Yon Noi Beach)
Ao Yon Beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
The beaches of Ao Ao Yon (Ao Yon Beach) and Ao Yon Noi (Ao Yon Noi Beach)are located on the east coast of Phuket at Cape Panwa (Ao Yon on the map). They are separated by a small stone cliff, which can be overcome during low water on foot, and you can also move from one to the other along the road a little around.
These beaches are not very popular with tourists, mostly locals rest here. Therefore, there is no entertainment here, and even there are very few sun loungers and beach umbrellas.
On Ao Yon small there is a restaurant and a Ship Inn bar and a couple of cafes, they do massages and rent kayaks. A narrow asphalt road runs right along Ao Yon Maly (Noi), in places literally a dozen meters from the water, fortunately, it is not loaded.
But on the big Ao Yon there is a local Yacht club, where, by the way, you can rent a boat or a small sailing yacht. There are also two hotels on the first line with direct access to the sand: Bandara Villas Phuket and Bandara Beach Phuket Resort . The road from the shore goes further here, and to get to the beach, you need to walk down the slope. A couple of hundred meters from the shore in the water there is a factory for growing pearls, and it is forbidden to swim up to it.
Actually, the lack of infrastructure and tourists is the charm of these beaches for those who prefer a quiet secluded holiday. In addition, during the low season (from May to November), when there are big waves on the west coast of the island, the water is calm here... Read more about Ao yon...
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Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Paradise Beach is a small secluded beach near Patong (Paradise Beach on the map). People come here to rest during the day to escape from the hustle and bustle of Patong and other beaches, but sometimes as a result there are a lot of people here. Fortunately, this is not always the case, and most of the time there are very few vacationers here, because it is not easy to get here even on your own transport.
Paradise Beach is very small, only 50 meters. It is hidden in a cozy beautiful bay and deserves the title of "bounty". There are very beautiful places to photograph around the beach, it is surrounded by dense jungles and hills. The water here is cleaner than on Patong, as is the sand itself. But it ceases to be heavenly when you want to buy. At low tide, the water goes far away, besides, there are a lot of rocks and corals under the water, you need to go very carefully. You can swim at high tide. There is a modest underwater life and you can swim with a mask.
Entrance is paid, 100 baht, although in fact you pay for parking, a sunbed and an umbrella, and not for admission. Now it is one of the few beaches in Phuket where there are sun loungers (on all the others in mid-2014 they were removed along with cafes and other buildings). You can't bring food and drinks here with you, because there is a cafe here. There is a parking lot.
Getting to Paradise Beach is not easy. You can get there by tuk-tuk for about 600 baht (in both directions) or by rented transport. But the road is not easy, very steep ascents and descents. When the road is wet, you can not climb them. Drive from Patong 10-15 minutes... Read more about Paradise Beach...
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Nakalay Beach
Nakalai Beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Nakalay Beach is located just a couple of kilometers north of Patong just after Kalim (Heat up on the map). Although it is not far from tourist spots and tourist views (it is perfectly visible from Kalim and from the main road), it is very inaccessible for most tourists. The fact is that the entire land around it was occupied by a hotel Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa , and it is not easy to pass through its territory.
The beach here, although beautiful and more or less long (almost 500 meters), is actually not suitable for swimming. The depth here is small, and at low tide the water goes very far. The bottom is rocky, and if you want to go to the depths to swim, you will have to go into the water in beach shoes so as not to hurt your feet on sharp stones. But there is plenty of space for children here, especially since the beach is perfectly protected from waves... Read more about Nakalay beach ...
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Nui Beach
Nui Beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Nui Beach (Ao Nui Beach) is another very quiet and secluded beach on the island without its own area. There is a dirt road leading to it, which is not easy to reach even by transport, so this place is almost always deserted and beautiful.
It is very tiny, barely reaches 100 meters, very beautiful, but at the same time dangerous. The depth here is decent, literally a couple of meters from the shore already up to the neck. There are rocks under the water, as well as on the shore, which together with the waves makes this place just extreme. Taking children here with you is not even worth thinking about. But if you are a fan of diving or swimming with a mask, this beach will please you. Perhaps this is one of the best places in Phuket for snorkeling, but again, do not forget about the stones.
There is no infrastructure on Nui Beach, as well as entertainment. Previously, there was a cafe and there were sunbeds on the beach, which were provided free of charge in exchange for an entrance fee to the beach. But in early 2015, the police closed this business, and now you can get to the beach for free... Read more about Nui beach...
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Sein Beach (also San, Ao Sane)
Sein Beach - beach quality
- fitness for swimming
- wave protection
- suitable for children
- infrastructure of the district
- entertainment and night rest
- shopping
Sein Beach (also San, Ao Sane) very secluded and small, located in the south of the island near Naiharna (Sein on the map). Previously, it was considered almost secret, but now there are plenty of people who want to relax there.
The length of the Sein coast is only 200 meters. It is very beautiful and one of the few that has preserved its original appearance, here you will feel like on a desert island, unless of course you take into account the large number of people who want to relax just like you. There are huge boulders lying on the shore in places, and they come across underwater. The slope of the bottom is sharp, so children need to be carefully watched. The sand here is very large. A number of trees lined the coast, including picturesque palm trees, creating a natural shade.
There is almost no entertainment on Ao Sein, as well as pesky souvenir and food vendors. There are no even sunbeds and umbrellas anymore. From entertainment, you can do snorkeling, but you need to bring glasses, fins and a tube with you, we didn't find any rental there.
Ao Sein is one of the few secluded beaches where you can not only come for a day break, but also stay in bungalows located on the edges of the beach. And nearby there is also the Bann Krating Resort hotel. Also the beach is easily accessible from Naiharna on foot, where there are several hotels.
There is almost no infrastructure in the Saint Beach area. The nearest shops are located a few kilometers away in the village behind Naiharny. There is a restaurant not far from the bungalow.
You can get to Sein Beach only by rented transport or taxi, and only through Naiharn beach. A narrow paved road about a kilometer long leads through the Meridian Hotel along the coast to it.